The Australian Government is contemplating actions to encourage more overseas migrants to live and work in regional cities. The aim of relocating overseas migrants in regional cities will be to ease pressure on home prices and infrastructures in place in Sydney and Melbourne.

“There are ways we are looking at that we might be able to provide support to people to choose a regional city, for example, if they can find work there,” Immigration Minister Peter Dutton said on Sky News on Sunday.

Australia’s migration intake had to be driven by the national interest, Dutton said. Getting migrants to move outside city limits and directing them toward regional centres could bring many benefits, he said.

The Central Coast NSW and Goulburn are reportedly being mentioned as two key areas that could host the influx of new migrants who might otherwise have settled in Sydney.

What is regional migration and what visa type can you apply for?

If you wish to migrate to a regional centre within Australia, you could apply for the Regional Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187). This visa is a permanent residence visa for skilled workers who want to work in regional Australia. It allows you to work in Australia under one of three streams:

• The Temporary Residence Transition stream is for subclass 457 visa holders who have worked for two years, while holding a subclass 457 visa, in the same occupation with their nominating employer (who is not subject to a labour agreement and who has lodged a valid nomination with us under the Temporary Residence Transition stream), who wants to offer them a permanent position in that occupation.
• The Direct Entry stream is for:
  • people who have been nominated by their employer under the Direct Entry stream
  • people who have never, or only briefly, worked in Australia
  • temporary residents who do not qualify for the Temporary Residence Transition stream.

• The Agreement stream is for subclass 457 visa holders nominated by an employer through a labour agreement.

There are requirements for the Regional Migration Scheme visa which applicants need to comply with. The requirements for this visa include that you:

• have been nominated by an approved Australian employer for a job in regional Australia (regional Australia does not include the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newcastle, Sydney, Wollongong or Melbourne)
• are younger than 50 years of age, unless you are exempt
• meet the skills, qualifications and English language requirements, unless you are exempt
• apply under the stream for which you were nominated.

You can apply for the Regional Migration Scheme visa only after you have been nominated by an employer in regional Australia – this means an area that is not in the Gold Coast, Brisbane, Newca​​stle, Sydney, Wollongong and Melbourne.
If the Regional Migration Scheme visa (subclass 187) is of interest to you, please don’t hesitate to contact our team of Registered Migration Agents who will help you through your visa application.